Sermon Notes 7/17 – Consider It All Joy

                                           JAMES 1:1-8

                                   2 CHRONICLES 20:1-20

2 Chronicles 20:1-4, 17 – Jerusalem and King Jehosophat r surrounded by enemies

        ***Jehosophat put himself and the people in a position of righteousness

*2 Chronicles 14:1-6 – King Asa did what was right in the sight of the Lord

*1 Kings 22:43 – King Jehosophat did was right in the sight of the Lord

***Righteousness has two aspects to it:

                (1.) Positional righteousness

                (2.) Practical Righteousness

(1.) POSITIONAL RIGHTEOUSNESS

-This is knowing who we are in Christ

-Our weaknesses and sins do not change who we are in Christ

(2.) PRACTICAL RIGHTEOUSNESS

Righteousness – means to do what is right

           ***Some Points About Righteousness

            1. THE TIME TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT IS ALL OF THE TIME

a. Consistently doing what is right is a result of a persons spiritual condition – Gal 5:16

-Spending daily time with Jesus every day helps us to do what is right

-it’s not trying.  It is abiding ——- John 15:1-10

(2.) DON’T DO WRONG BECAUSE WRONG THINGS HAPPEN TO YOU – 1 Peter 3:8-11

-wrong things – trials & hardships – will happen to us

-keep doing what is right when things go wrong – keep practicing the spiritual principles every day

-Temptation – do not be led by your feelings

     *we will feel that God is far away

     * we will feel the Lord does not love us

—Stand on the Word of God

(3.) DOING WHAT IS RIGHT ISN’T EASY  – 1 Peter 2:21-25

-it was not easy for Jesus to do what is right as He went to the cross

-there are forces are work who want us to do wrong – culture, flesh & the enemy